Saturday, September 28, 2013

Today I am pleased to present to you all the 99th in a series (of 100) of Author Interviews. Recently I sat down with the shoelace-tying, guitar-playing, Rachel Amphlett, and our conversation went something like this:

Paul: I like to start my interviews by asking if you have any writing rituals?

Rachel: If I’m not using my laptop to write on, I
always use the A5 size moleskine notebooks. They’re a perfect size to carry
around or leave on the bedside table for those insomnia-driven writing
sessions. The pocket at the back is useful as well – when I was writing my
latest thriller, Under Fire, I
started a new habit of sketching out scenes on index cards and kept those in
the pocket of the notebook so that I was never stuck for something to write
about. Pen-wise I’ll use anything if I have to, but I do have a soft spot for
.4 nib size felt pens. I’m lucky in that my writing is really neat but a good
pen ensures I can go back and check things months after I’ve written it down!

Paul: What
types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

I have quite
wide reading tastes though – like my musical tastes. The bookshelf is about as
eclectic as the CD/iPod collection. Other authors I enjoy are Jim Butcher (the Harry Dresden series), Sandra Brown, Ian
Rankin, Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games),
Steven King, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens – all authors I’ve discovered since
being a teenager and I’m always open to recommendations!

Paul: If
someone had the power to step into your creative mind what would they see?

Rachel: A lot of munchkins running backwards and
forwards with bits of paper in their hands, stressing about where to file it
for future use…

Paul: In
all the years you’ve been publishing your work, what is the biggest mistake you
made that you could share so others can avoid making it?

Rachel: When I started Under Fire, I
had a really clear idea of what the story was in my head so I just started
writing without a plan – HUGE mistake!
By the time the characters had taken over, it had taken a completely
different turn so I had to ditch about 10,000 words. I then sat down and did a
proper chapter-by-chapter plan which got it back under control.

I’ll always plan out a novel in future before
I start writing it!

Paul: How do you find the time to write?

Rachel: I
need to be disciplined. My new trick is to write on the train into work – I’ve
got a 40 minute journey each way and if I manage to wedge myself into a quiet
corner of a carriage I can get between 500-1200 words down per session.

I try to write something every day, even if
it’s only a few hundred words so I’ll sneak in half an hour each day of a busy
weekend, more if it’s quiet. I also suffer from bouts of insomnia so rather
than fight it, I’ll sit and write for an hour or so rather than waste the time.

Paul: What is one thing you hope I do not tell the
readers?

Rachel: I
think I was the last kid in my class to learn to tie my shoelaces…

Paul: Do you plot your stories or do you just get
an idea and run with it?

Rachel: To
elaborate on the planning I implement now, I started properly on my third novel
last week but only once I had the whole chapter plan listed out with every
single scene drawn up. It’s made it very, very easy to get words on to a page
and get the word count up quickly.

I’ve started using Scrivener for the first
time with this new novel and by copying and pasting each scene at the top of
the chapter I’m working on, I’ve got a quick reference guide to remind me what
I’m supposed to be doing.

It doesn’t stop me from changing things
around as the story develops – it’s just better to be able to see the knock-on
cause and effect of making changes and seeing how the characters will cope.

Paul: Do you do a lot of editing or do you find
that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?

Rachel: I
tend to edit grammar and spelling as I go along. I’ve really noticed the
quality of my writing jump considerably between book one and book two – it’s
more confident. The first structural edit won’t happen until I’m about
three-quarters of the way through. Once that’s been done, I tighten up any
scenes and then finish the complete manuscript. I always employ a professional
editor right at the end before publication because by then I’m oblivious to any
typos and bad habits.

Paul: Do you have to do much research for your
stories?

Rachel: Both
White Gold and Under Fire took a lot of research time. Being techno-thrillers, I
really had to make sure that I sounded like I knew what I was talking about – in
order to bend the facts to fit the story, I had to start off with something
plausible. All up, Under Fire took 18
months from start to finish and six months of that was probably made up of
researching facts before I could put pen to paper.

With my third novel, I’m taking a break from
the techno-thrillers and returning to basics. It’ll still be a thriller, but it
means a lot less research, and I’m really enjoying the freedom of writing
something like that.

Paul: What
is your most recent book? Tell us a little about it

Rachel: Under
Fire was spawned out of reading an article about the UK’s gas crisis over
the winter of 2010. I felt that it wouldn’t be the last time the government
found themselves in that situation, and what would happen if someone, or an
organization, took advantage of that? Here’s the blurb:-

An explosion rocks a Qatari natural gas
facility… a luxury cruise liner capsizes in the Mediterranean… and someone has
stolen a submarine…

Are the events connected?

Dan Taylor doesn’t believe in coincidences –
all he has to do is convince his superiors they are next in the terrorists’
line of fire.

As Britain enters its worst winter on record,
Dan must elude capture to ensure the country’s energy resources are protected.
At all costs.

In an action-packed adventure, from the
Middle East through the Mediterranean to London, Dan and his team are on a quest
which will test every choice he makes. Assisted by the exotic Antonia Almasi,
Dan realises he faces an adversary far greater than he ever imagined.

Paul: How much marketing do you do for your
published works or for your ‘brand’?

Rachel: I’ve
learnt so much since publishing White
Gold! I started planning the marketing for Under Fire about 5 months out from its release, drafting press
releases, organizing a book trailer to be made, and getting postcards made up
with both book covers on which I coerced a few local cafes and independent
bookshops to display. I also spent some
time re-branding my website earlier this year and I’m
really pleased with the results. I do as much as I can around a full-time job
and home life – I think the important thing is to recognize your own
limitations, and that’s where networking with other authors and readers is so
critical to any success. It’s a team effort.

Paul: What do you do when you’re not writing? Do
you have any hobbies or party tricks?

Rachel: I
wish I could spend more time playing guitar – I used to play in bands but the
writing (and marketing) takes up all my creative time at the moment. I’m hoping
to do some songwriting with a mate of mine towards the end of this year and I’m
just going to have to be very disciplined with my spare time so I get the
chance to do that.

I love going to the cinema and live music,
and I’ve just started learning to ride a motorbike. I should probably learn to
calm down a bit but I don’t want to get to my old age and wish I’d done
something, so I tend to try and take on everything now – ask anyone who know
me!

Paul: Thanks, Rachel, that was wonderful, and brings a good close to this series of interviews. I wish you every success for the future.

About Rachel Amphlett: Rachel Amphlett previously worked in the UK publishing industry, played lead guitar in rock bands, and worked with BBC radio before relocating from England to Australia in 2005.

After returning to writing, Rachel enjoyed publication success both in Australia and the United Kingdom with her short stories.

In August 2011, Rachel published her first thriller, 'White Gold', as an eBook with a paperback version being released in 2012.

A further Dan Taylor thriller, 'Under Fire', is scheduled for release in August 2013, while two independent projects are currently being researched.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

It's been a busy year. In fact, it's been a very busy year. I've nearly completed writing my fourth book, and I've still got another to write before the end of December. I've been pushing myself too hard.

Unfortunately, my life doesn't just revolve around writing - I also work a full-time 'day' job. When I couple that with the limited marketing I do, and all the blog posts, I'm feeling a little weary. For the past several months, I've been posting around 25-30 blog articles a month, including several series, and I've decided to step back a little from this effort. From October, you're only going to see around 15 to 20 articles a month. That's still one every couple of days, but hopefully it should free up a little more time for me.

I have a million ideas in my head at the moment, regarding things I want to do, and so little time to actually deliver on them. I need to carve out that space from somewhere, and this is where I'm going to find a little of it. So, please excuse me when I'm not offering any more Indie Author interviews. And never say never - who knows - next year I may start another series.

Later next month, I am releasing the first book in a major YA Fantasy series. It's a huge thing for me - the first new fantasy series since I started Xannu, back in 2003. My writing has matured. My plotting has matured. My process has matured. And I'm ready for the big time. So, who wants to come and claim me, and drag me into it? Hopefully, it's you, my readers!

I'm confident there will still be a lot of interesting articles published on my blog, it's not like I'm going away. I'm just decreasing my output by about 30%, and concentrating on bigger and better things. Thanks for your understanding.

Monday, September 23, 2013

UnDone - Second Book In Dystopian Fiction Series Released By YA Fantasy Author, Paul Dorset

Author Paul Dorset has published an enthralling new dystopian fiction novella, UnDone, the second in the NotDone series of four that are being released during the coming year.

UnDone

Sep. 23, 2013 - MOUNT VERNON, Wash. -- Mount Vernon, WA, author and resident, Paul Dorset has published an enthralling new dystopian fiction novella, UnDone, the second in a series of four that will be released during the coming year. The book is available for $2.99 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Smashwords.

For fans of end-of-the-world plots, political drama, sci-fi, and steampunk, this book has something to offer for everyone.

.Help
..Help!
...Please Help Us
....Everything is NotDone

In a desolate country ravaged by years of war, the dwindling inhabitants of Ameiza live in a segregated society where fertility has its special privileges. But for the lesser citizens of Talbot City, draconian rule means persecution or even death.

Now that five subjugated citizens have escaped from the autocracy of the city, can they fashion a better existence? Or will the politics of families from ages past stand in the way of unity and freedom? Pursued, and now traitors, five UnDones struggle to understand their destiny.

As a series of books that encompasses the following titles – NotDone, UnDone, PreDone, and Done – this book continues the story in a series that will ultimately leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the value of relationships, and even life itself (http://notdone.us)

What they said about NotDone:"NotDone is set in Talbot City where the lives of the people are determined by their hierarchy. Plagued with unthinkable missiles bombarding the city and dissension threatening the Queen's reign of control, Dixon stumbles upon a discovery that sets about a daring escape for an unlikely group. Paul Dorset's NotDone is the first in a series of four thrilling books that will have the reader on the edge of their seat... " – Reader

About Paul Dorset: Paul Dorset was born in Poole, Dorset in England, but has been living in America since 1995. He has been writing for many years and some of his early works were published in 'teen advice' columns.

He has also had many technical articles published, mostly in the field of Computing.
Paul currently lives in the Pacific Northwest but has traveled extensively and worked many times with teens and youth groups. It is this background combined with a vivid imagination that has enabled him to weave a tapestry of magic into complete novels. His first epic fantasy series, aimed at young adults, is entitled 'The Southern Lands'. However, the storyline is more than exciting enough to keep adults turning pages as the story unfolds.

Paul is a father of five who has worked as a computer consultant for more than 30 years. His publications include fantasy novels for ages 12-plus, how-to books for adults, and dark paranormal thrillers for ages 16+. He incorporates his extensive experience in computers - and his insightful perspective on the possibilities therein - in novels that include layers of contemporary intrigue, romance and mystery. You can follow his blog at http://blog.pauldorset.com

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Today I am pleased to present to you all the 98th in a series (of 100) of Author Interviews. Recently I sat down with the short-fused, crowd-hating, AFN Clarke, and our conversation went something like this:

Paul: I like to start my interviews by asking if you have any writing rituals?

AFN: Not really. I can write just about anywhere
at any time regardless of noise or location. I guess the only thing I do on a
regular basis when I'm not "feeling" the next part of the plot is I
step away from writing, go for a walk, watch TV or do something totally
different as it's only then that my brain can figure things out for itself
without me forcing anything and I get that fresh "aha" experience
when I sit down again and let the words flow.

Paul: What
types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

AFN: I love all sorts of books. I grew up on the
classics but if I had to choose one author to highlight it would be JP Donleavy.
His books like "The Gingerman", "A Singular Man", "The
Onion Eaters" and others opened my eyes to the fact that creative writing
is a living organism. When you write creatively you have the ability to invent
in many ways, both grammatically and with vocabulary which, if it works,
creates a vivid colorful and satisfying result. Donleavy turns convention on
its head, leaves out verbs, uses words in a visceral or visual rather than
"correct" way and it's an amazingly freeing experience to read him.

Paul: If someone had the power to step into your
creative mind what would they see?

AFN: I think they'd see something that resembles a
really large, intricate, interconnected spider web. Because I write in a
"stream of consciousness" style, my stories evolve organically. This
means that I continually have all of the characters, events and sublayers in my
mind all the time. This creative soup is "processed" 24/7 into
intricate patterns that find their way onto the page each day. The web is woven
in my head first, so that's what readers would see - it's a bit like chaos
theory - there actually is order in what appears to be total chaos.

Paul: Do
you have a favorite character in each of your series, aside from the lead? If
so, which one and why?

AFN: In my new series The Orange Moon Affair one
of my favorite characters is Julie. Most "male dominated" thrillers
avoid strong female characters, but why? In my opinion women often have greater insight and that quiet strength
of character that men often lack when they only resort to brute force to solve
problems. They're also more unpredictable. Julie weaves all those
characteristics, a fierce loyalty and hidden abilities into a dominant role in
the story resulting in a highly surprising ending. I like her sensitivity, her
soulfulness and her gutsiness.

Paul: In
all the years you’ve been publishing your work, what is the biggest mistake you
made that you could share so others can avoid making it?

AFN: Fortunately, my first book Contact (a memoir)
was a bestseller but then I made a rookie mistake that I've never made again.
My publisher said "so what's your next book?" and I said "what
book?" Oops - wrong answer! It took
a while to get that initial momentum back. My advice? Don't let the limelight
get to your head - take your ego, box it up, and get back to work! Now I always know what my next book is going
to be… and the next… and the next.

Paul: How do you find the time to write?

AFN: I think every writer is, to some
degree, self-indulgent as to be successful we simply have to sit and write no
matter what else is happening around us. Or that's how I feel, anyway. I'm
lucky to be writing full-time but have to acknowledge that my amazing wife
bears the brunt of handling the demands of everyday life so that I can actually
spend each day at my computer. I let go of a lot of things normal people
do - I become more of a hermit and far
less social but the consistency pays off and I think my books are better for
it.

Paul: What is one thing you hope I do not tell the
readers?

AFN: Ha, that's a very
funny question! I have to admit I have a short fuse with people who won't think
for themselves or refuse to "think outside the box". I am insatiably
curious, read tons, and love to have heated discussions. That's when I feel
most excited and alive and so I am baffled by some people who seem to live life
on automatic and never question anything. Or people who just want to sit on the
sidelines of life and "watch". Sadly we've become too much of a
"spectator society" instead of getting in there, boots and all, and
participating.

Paul: If
you are self-published, what led to you going your own way?

AFN: My first 6 books were traditionally
published, but I've stepped out of that system in more recent years. I found I
had to do most of the marketing myself anyway, so why not take back control and
reap the rewards? So I did, I got my
rights back and released all my work as ebooks in the Amazon Kindle Store.
Interestingly, after 30 years Random House agreed to hand back the rights to my
bestseller Contact as the book was supposedly "too old". I am glad to
say I have proven them wrong! It's still one of my bestsellers and resonates
with readers all over the world. I love the freedom self-publishing brings,
though would still work with a good publisher on a more equal footing if that
were possible.

Paul: Do you plot your stories or do you just get
an idea and run with it?

AFN: I am more of a "stream of consciousness'
writer. Although I have a clear idea of the plot and a definite focus I simply
start and then the book takes on a life of its own. The characters are, after
all, people, and how they react to different situations determines what happens
next - and so as my characters grow they help develop the twists and turns of
the story in a way that often surprises even me. I think this gives my writing
a greater immediacy, vibrancy, and feeling of being "real" even if
it's a highly fanciful story.

Paul: Do
you have to do much research for your stories?

AFN: I am always researching but I am blessed with
a "colorful" life as fodder for my books as well. My father was an
MI6 operative and I've been a Captain in Britain's elite Parachute Regiment, a
race car driver, pilot, screenwriter, computer programmer and proud father of 4
daughters. I've lived in Hong Kong, India, Iran, Libya, Europe, the UK, USA and
Australia and so have been immersed in different cultures, political and
religious systems. This blend of my background, insatiable curiosity about
everything and my ongoing research is an important part of every book, so that
the boundaries between what is real and what is not are always intriguingly
blurred adding, I hope, a depth and breadth to my work.

Paul: What is your most recent book? Tell us a
little about it.

AFN: The Orange Moon Affair is the first of a new
thriller series featuring Thomas Gun, ex-special forces, who is dragged back to
his old life of international intrigue and danger after the brutal murder of
his billionaire father. What tears at his soul most is whether the abhorrent
conspiracy he uncovers was actually his father's creation. In trying to find
the answer he risks losing all he holds most dear, including his accomplice Julie,
who constantly surprises him with her insight and abilities. Though fast-paced
and action packed it's also thought-provoking in its exploration of the abuse
of power and position for personal gain.

Paul: What
inspired you to write this book?

AFN: My inspiration is the person the book is
dedicated to - Terry Forrestal, ex-British SAS, brother-in-arms and a dear
friend, may he rest in peace. His life read like a Hollywood movie and he had
that streak of larrikin in him so I think he would enjoy this book. He - like
myself, and the central character Thomas Gunn - was always torn between the
"trained killer" part of himself and the more caring, emotional part
that simply wanted a more "normal" and peaceful life. That inner
turmoil is an integral part of the book and what makes Thomas so vulnerable. It
also makes for an interesting relationship with Julie.

AFN: What I love about writing is living in and
creating whole new worlds in which my readers and I can lose ourselves. Editing
is what I dislike most! For me, when I
write the last word I'm done. Enter my long suffering wife and first-line
editor. She puts on her suit of armor and delivers her forceful feedback. Despite
my relentless kicking and screaming, her insistence slowly works its magic and
I do indeed succumb, making changes that are essential to the success of the
book. You'd think I'd learn, but the next time, it's the same again, round and
round we go.

Paul: What do you do when you’re not writing? Do
you have any hobbies or party tricks?

AFN: I am not naturally a sedentary person, so I
spend my relaxation time being physically active. My favorite thing is to sail
out on the ocean alone when the sky is blue, sun warm, and let the wind blow
the cobwebs out of my head. My wife and I take long walks and we enjoy
traveling off the beaten path. I used to be a race car driver so watch all
sorts of motor racing and just about every kind of sport you can imagine. I
also really enjoy cooking and make a huge mess in the kitchen. No party tricks
I'm afraid, don't go to them - am not a fan of crowds.

Paul: Thanks, AFN, that was most interesting. I wish you every success for the future.

About AFN Clarke: AFN CLARKE is the son of a British MI6 operative, pilot, sailor, screenwriter, father of four who’s lived all over the world, served in the British Army and recovered from the physical/emotional traumas of war. His bestselling memoir CONTACT was serialized in a British newspaper and made into an award winning BBCTV film. He’s insatiably curious, loves heated discussions and has a rascally sense of humor. He now writes fiction of various genres – political thrillers (AN UNQUIET AMERICAN), human drama (DRY TORTUGAS), humor/satire (DREAMS FROM THE DEATH AGE; ARMAGEDDON), horror (COLLISIONS) and THE ORANGE MOON AFFAIR, the first of a new Thomas Gunn thriller/suspense series with more coming soon.

Friday, September 20, 2013

It's not long at all now until my latest book gets published (THREE days!!). UnDone is book two in a four book series, that is set in a dystopian world. During the next week you can expect to hear more about it, but in the meantime check out book one - NotDone - priced at $0.99 from all the usual places - and then look forward to reading UnDone.
Title: NotDone
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Price: $0.99
Launch: June 2013

.Help..Help!…Please Help Us….Everything is NotDone.In a desolate country ravaged by years of war, the dwindling inhabitants of Ameiza live in a segregated society where fertility has its special privileges. But for the lesser citizens of Talbot City, draconian rule means persecution or even death. Can five subjugated workers break free from the autocracy and fashion a better existence? Or will the politics of families from ages past stand in the way of unity and freedom?

Title: UnDone
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Launch: SOON!!

.Help
..Help!
…Please Help Us
….Everything is NotDone

In a desolate country ravaged by years of war, the dwindling
inhabitants of Ameiza live in a segregated society where fertility has its
special privileges. But for the lesser citizens of Talbot City, draconian rule
means persecution or even death.

Now that five subjugated citizens have escaped from the autocracy
of the city, can they fashion a better existence? Or will the politics of families
from ages past stand in the way of unity and freedom? Pursued, and now
traitors, five UnDones struggle to understand their destiny.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Today I am pleased to publish my 16th guest blog post. You too can have a post published on my blog. Just read the guidelines HERE. In the meantime, enjoy...Is The Publishing Industry Broken?
By: Jorge SalgadoI’m a reader of
good books. In my life I must have read thousands of books, ever since I was
about ten or eleven years of age. I
devoured books, often at a single sitting, mostly science fiction but also
fantasy, horror and thrillers.

I’m fairly new to
the writing game. However in 2011, I was invited to collaborate on a
professional book about process serving and I researched how to publish it the
easiest and best way possible. Doing that research really paid off because I
discovered certain things about the publishing industry.

There are three
types of publishers out there, legacy or traditional, self-publishers and
vanity publishers.

In the late part
of 2007, Amazon introduced the Kindle, before that, the only viable means of
book distribution was paper. So if a writer wanted to reach a mass audience and
more importantly respect as an author, they needed a paper distribution partner
ie a publisher. A writer wasn’t an author unless they had a signed publishing
deal with an advance payment. Sure a
writer could hire his own editor and his own cover design artist; he could even
hire a printing press to create the actual books. The one service he couldn't
hire out was distribution. And publishers didn't offer distribution as an à la
carte service. If a writer wanted distribution, he had to pay a publisher up to
85% of his revenues for the entire publishing package: editorial, copyediting,
proofreading, jacket design, printing, and marketing, all bundled with
distribution.

But getting a
deal with a publisher wasn’t easy and it’s even harder today. We all hear about
how getting signed by one of the big legacy publishers is almost
impossible. Some of the issues sited are
that they won’t accept un-agented submissions, won’t sign on (take a risk on)
unknown authors and even if they did, they won’t spend money on publicity for their
book and the book would probably take at least three years to be published.

Traditional
publishers tend to concentrate on those authors with an established platform or
a famous author with a pre-existing audience. But is that the only model?

Well there are
also the Vanity Publishers who take money from authors whose book doesn’t
really deserve to be published. It’s
virtually impossible for a submission to be rejected, book covers are designed
by the numbers and the only promotion that goes on is targeted towards the
author’s friends and family. This is a big no-no as far as I am concerned.

Finally there is
the self-published!

When Amazon
stormed the publishing industry gates, they almost destroyed the legacy
publishers who until then were the gate-keepers and guardians of high quality
books who believe that publishing is a meritocracy where the best work by the
most diligent writers gets represented, acquired, published and sold.

But there have
been many successful self-published authors who sell millions of books. Some of them have gone on to sign significant
contracts with major publishing houses such as Amanda Hocking, John Locke and
E. L. James.

On the other
hand, there are a lot of self-published authors who won’t spend any money on
the minimum effort required on editing, book cover artists or publicity
themselves leaving their books, in my humble opinion, unreadable.

So what should we
do? Write, write and then write some
more. Writing is a journey that allows
the writer to develop their skills. As
with any profession, one must practice to be good at it. It is self-evident that the self-published
author must do more than simply write. He must write better than anyone else.

There is a
process to self-publishing that is not at first evident; you can of course just
publish electronically but early on I realised that I wanted to produce a
physical book. Print on Demand came
along. If you have a contract with a
printer like Lightning Source for example and set yourself up as a small press,
you can publish hardbacks, paperbacks and of course electronic editions of your
books.

You will still
need to pay for editors, proof-readers and book cover artists but you retain up
to 70% of the sales which is a hell of a lot more than you would get from a
legacy publisher.

Is the publishing
industry broken? No it’s just walking a little bit funny these days.

About Jorge Salgado-Reyes: Jorge moved to the UK at age seven from Chile, where he was born. He is tri-lingual, having lived in the UK and Mozambique, speaking fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Jorge came up through the ranks in various high street retail stores until he became a Security Manager for a leading high street book seller and then various roles as a Senior Retail Loss Prevention Investigator at a national level.

In April 2006, after seventeen years in retail fraud investigations, he started his own private investigator agency, Allied Detectives & Salgado Investigations specialising in corporate investigations, surveillance, process serving and tracing. Jorge is a founder member of e-LEGAL | Gathering, an online discussion forum for private investigators. Jorge has a Edexcel BTEC Advanced Private Investigation Level 3 Diploma and a BTEC award in Investigative Interviewing. He is currently serving on WAPI's Governing Council in Electronic Media, after having served as General Secretary for a year, and is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses.

Jorge has also co-authored a guide called British Process Servers Guide. Jorge is currently working on his novel The Smoke in Death’s Eye and is planning a series of books,The Zen of Shoplifting & The Zen of Sleuthing. He also enjoys writing poetry (his works can be found in the poetry section of his writing forum www.salgado-reyes.com) and is an amateur photographer.